Kitchener Rangers players Kyle Gentles and Doug Blaisdell visited Suddaby Public School in Kitchener on Wednesday, November 30th for Read with the Rangers with 85 students in Kindergarten.

Read with the Rangers is a program that focuses on the importance of literacy while having fun. Students have the opportunity to read with their favourite Rangers players, and learn a little more about the players’ experiences through reading and education.

Two Rangers players discuss important lessons with the students like respect, goal-setting, sportsmanship and teamwork.

On Wednesday, Kyle and Doug read Brady Brady and the MVP, and also chatted with the children about the basics of hockey, since many in the class had never played before. The students asked lots of great questions, like how they learn to skate and why players wear jerseys.

“Spending time with the students today was a lot of fun,” said Kyle. “One of the students asked us what we do in the summer when we’re not playing hockey and I told them I played soccer. Well that sparked a lot of conversation because we learned that while not many of the students in the class played hockey, a lot of them definitely play soccer.”

Doug, who said his favourite part to the day was reading to such a large crowd, thinks the RBC School Tour is important to bring to local schools because of the parallels between the classroom and the hockey rink.

“There are a lot of similarities between the work ethic with our team on the ice, and in school for the kids,” said Doug. “We got to share that we are always working at hockey to improve our game, and that’s what the students need to do – study – to improve their reading and writing.”

Kyle also added to the students that in order to do your best, you have to make sure you are having fun regardless of whether it’s in the classroom, or when you’re playing a sport.

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